Saturday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time (Year II)
Jeremiah 7:1-11 | Psalm 83:3-6,8,11 | Matthew 13:24-30
Steal, would you, murder, commit adultery, perjure yourselves, burn incense to Baal, follow alien gods that you do not know? – and then come presenting yourselves in this Temple that bears my name, saying: Now we are safe – safe to go on committing all these abominations! (Jeremiah 7:9-10)
When I read this passage, the word “bulimia” immediately springs to mind.
Indeed, the binge-purge cycle that characterizes this eating disorder is a close analogy of the behaviour described above. Oh, how wonderful it is to continually “binge” on sinful thoughts and deeds, then just go to church once a week to “purge” our sins. Rinse and repeat “Sunday Catholicism” for the rest of our lives, accumulating luxuries and power over others while keeping God happy. What’s not to like?
Except it doesn’t work that way.
As physical bulimia can lead to:
- heart stoppages,
- the inability to care about food,
- dental erosion,
- death,
so spiritual bulimia can lead to:
- moral stoppages,
- the inability to care about life,
- spiritual erosion,
- the eternal death that’s life in hell.
In both cases, many sufferers simply don’t see or won’t acknowledge their problem, so it’s up to third parties to intervene and “WAKE UP YOUR IDEA!” in the local patois.
Lord, open our eyes to those around us who pay lip service to You while doing the Devil’s deeds. Give us the courage and the wisdom to gently nudge them back in Your direction, and never let us fall away from You. Amen.